A recent letter from Humboldt State University to talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hit newspapers from coast-to-coast.

News of the Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research -- the nation's first research-oriented university marijuana institute -- hit the Internet in late November, and Kimmel responded with wisecracks about the school's pot reputation on his late-night show.

HSU's response? Send a letter to the comedian inviting him to speak at spring graduation.

"We thought some of your lines were actually pretty funny, as did many on campus," wrote HSU President Rollin Richmond and Associated Students President Ellyn Henderson in the Dec. 17 letter. "However, like many students and alumni, we also felt you shortchanged Humboldt State University, portraying all of our students as pot-obsessed slackers. That was not fair."

Henderson said the idea for the letter came from an unnamed HSU administrator, who pitched the idea to her. She and Richmond "went through a few drafts." To catch Kimmel's attention, they tried to be humorous, she said.

HSU spokesman Jared Petroske said news of the letter -- which was reported in the local media on Monday -- trickled out when he got a call from a Los Angeles Times reporter on Wednesday.

"A little interview turned into a cool blog post the next day," on the LA Times website, he said. Then on Thursday, the Associated Press called him. That's when the story really broke loose, he said.

The Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and everyone in between picked up the AP story on Friday.

"Then, this morning on my way to work, I heard it on NPR, and I thought, that's really cool," Petroske said.

He said the university has yet to hear back from Kimmel about the invite.

"I don't know if we're going to rise to the point where we get his attention or not," Petroske said. "We'll see."

An email to Kimmel's publicist seeking comment Friday went unanswered.

"After the pot jokes, we invited @jimmykimmel to commencement. Perhaps he can be the 1st honorary degree in weed studies," wrote HSU geography professor Monica Stephens on Twitter. Stephens is a member of the marijuana institute, and has an upcoming lecture entitled "Data Shadows of the Underground Economy," set for Jan. 29.

Henderson said she didn't expect anything to come of the letter. But now? Who knows, she said.

"We're not looking for an apology," Henderson said, adding the commencement speech is likely a longshot. "I'm hoping we get some sort of response."